A typical Florida summer will be hot and humid.  Thank goodness we have some of the most beautiful beaches; otherwise, summers would be unbearable.  When the temperature rises, so does the temperature of the Gulf waters.  Unfortunately, so does the temperature of the sand.  You’ll often see a beach-goer enjoying a relaxing and refreshing dip, only to race for their towel the minute their bare feet touch the blistering sand. 

Siesta Key, however, has somehow managed to avoid this curse.  How so? Well, the sand of Siesta Key is 99% quartz.  It’s very fine and very white.  So white, in fact, that it reflects the heat of the sun.  So on hot, hot Florida days, the sand on Siesta Key is cool to the touch.  So, you’ll be able to casually stroll to your beach chair after your swim. This is also the perfect place if you have children.  They can play on the sand and build sand castles all day…Don’t forget to bring plenty of sun block.   

It’s not just a beautiful, white, sandy beach that you’ll find in Siesta Key.  There are bars, restaurants, and sidewalk cafes.  It’s not just humans who enjoy visiting Siesta Key. On any one of your days here, you might spot a manatee or a dolphin enjoying the Gulf waters alongside you. Pelicans, cranes, and egrets all call Siesta Key home. 

If you’re looking for a vacation, come to the beach and rent a Siesta Key Vacation Rental.

Guest Blogger - Leslie Bofill

Longboat Key is nestled between Sarasota and Bradenton on an 11 mile barrier island that sits in the Gulf Coast.  

Like many beach towns in the Gulf, Longboat offers miles of white-sandy beaches.  However, unlike many beach towns in the Gulf, Longboat Key is a private beach. You can still find public beaches.  Some even offer free limited parking, a rarity among Florida beaches. If you want to avoid the hassle of looking for a public entrance and parking, then consider staying in a Longboat Key vacation home.  This option will not only let you experience Longboat Key like a native, it’ll also give you the opportunity to spend more time in this beautiful city.   

Being that it’s a private beach, your visit to Longboat Key will almost guarantee that you will experience a truly secluded beach.  During the winter months, November to March, snowbirds flock from northern states.  With a year round average temperature of 73, Longboat Key is a popular place for northerners wishing to escape the harsh winters.  So, you’ll see a few more people on the beaches during those months.   

Longboat is not just for beach goers.  There are countless activities that appeal to those who enjoy active vacations, such as biking, rollerblading, and watersports.  If you prefer to take a more laid back approach to your vacations, then you can spend some time shopping in St. Armand’s Circle in Sarasota or enjoy the many fine arts the city has to offer.

Guest Blogger - Leslie Bofill

St. George Island is located in the Gulf Coast. It’s an unspoiled 28 mile barrier island that jets out of the peninsula, near Apalachicola and Tallahassee.  The beauty of St. George Island is that you can enjoy a relaxing day in its practically deserted beaches.  Also, since St. George Island is part of the Emerald Coast, you will experience miles of white sand and the emerald-green waters of the Gulf.  

Like many beaches in this area, St. George Island also has a park, St. George Island State Park where you’ll find sandy coves, salt marshes, bay forest, and dunes, all along nine miles of untouched shoreline.  If you enjoy hiking through nature, the park offers several hiking trails, boardwalks, and observation desks to help you experience its true, unspoiled nature. 

Although St. George prides itself on being a secluded, pristine beach community, it still has much to offer in terms of dining and entertainment.  Of course, being that St. George is known for its fishing, you have your choice of seafood restaurants.  But, if you’re in the mood to sit back and enjoy a glass of wine, you can go to Verandas Bistro and Wine Bar, winner of the 2006 and 2007 Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for Best Restaurant for Wine Lovers.  If you love wine, then Veranda’s is an experience you can’t miss.  St. George also offers a variety of tours from fishing expeditions, horseback riding on the beach, to sailing on a 35’ New England Cutter.  

If you choose St. George Island for your next vacation, you will definitely have something to do each day you’re there. The only complaint you’ll have is that you didn’t stay longer.  St. George is the kind of place where you go and never want to leave.  

For more information on St. George Island, click here: http://www.apalachicolabay.org/stgeorgehome.php

Guest Blogger:  Leslie Bofill

Panama City is located in the Florida panhandle.  You'll often hear this area called the Emerald Coast.  Florida's Emerald Coast claims to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  The beaches in this area are marked by a stark contrast between the strikingly white sand and the emerald-green colored ocean waters.  As a result of having these beautiful beaches, Panama City is becoming a very popular vacation hotspot, both for college students and families. 

Panama City Beach has everything you need for an exciting and relaxing vacation.  As I’ve already mentioned, Panama City has great beaches, but also: shopping, fishing, golf (including miniature golf), camping, and family-oriented attractions.  It's the perfect place to take your family and ensure that everyone will have something to do. 

PC, as it's known to the locals, is considered the Spring Break Capital of the World, a dubious distinction to some.  However, PC holds that title with a great amount of pride.  The city is already preparing for Spring Break 2008.  Spring Break in Panama City is like no other event you will experience.  It's fun, loud, and exciting.  For students, celebrating Spring Break in Panama City is an event that can't be missed! 

If you're travelling with your family this spring, Panama City Beach is still a fantastic vacation destination.  A Panama City Beach vacation home might be the perfect alternative to rowdy crowds checking in to the local hotels.  So, book a Panama City vacation rental, pack your bags, and get to the beach…it’s time to warm your bones on the white sandy beaches of the Florida Panhandle!

For more information on Panama City Beach, click here: http://www.pcbeach.org/index.shtml  

Guest Blogger – Leslie Bofill

If you truly want to get away - get away from traffic, from people - Cape San Blas is the place to go.  This is where you go to truly disconnect from the hustle and bustle of your daily life.  Cape San Blas is a peninsula that extends into Gulf of Mexico between Port St. Joe and Apalachicola in the Florida Panhandle.  It offers about 20 miles of white, sandy beaches and just enough seclusion to feel like you're on a real vacation.
 

A major plus to visiting Cape San Blas is that it's beaches are pet friendly.  In addition to having pet-friendly beaches, many of the vacation rentals in Cape San Blas are also pet-friendly.  And, when you go out to eat, you can take your pets along.  Area restaurants also welcome pets, usually in the outside patios.

Those of you with pets know how hard it is to leave them behind when you go on vacation.  Not only can it be emotional, especially if you have little ones, but also expensive.  Leaving your pets with a veterinarian or in a pet kennel can add a substantial cost to your vacation. 

Instead of leaving them behind, plan a trip to Cape San Blas, and take your whole family, pets included.  Cape San Blas even has parks that are pet friendly and offer "pet stations" so you can clean up after your pets.
 

One way this little peninsula has maintained its untouched nature is to limit construction and commercialization.  So, one of your best options when vacationing here is a vacation home.  As I said, many vacation homes in the Cape are pet friendly - making Cape San Blas the ideal location for a family vacation. 

Find out more about Cape San Blas here: http://www.visitgulf.com/  

Guest Blogger - Leslie Bofill

Destin was originally founded as a small fishing village.  In the many years since it was founded, Destin has transformed itself into a city that boasts world-class fishing, clear ocean waters, and white, sandy beaches.  Destin is also proud to say that it has the largest, charter fishing fleet in the state.  There are over 100 charter and party boats for you to choose from when staying in this city.

For you fishermen, Destin fishing offers tremendous variety from snapper and grouper to wahoo and sailfish.  When in Destin, you can choose a different fishing adventure for each day you're there.  You can go offshore fishing on Monday, bay and bayou fishing on Tuesday, freshwater fishing on Wednesday, night fishing on the Okaloosa Pier on Thursday, and finish it up with bottom fishing on Friday.  The only problem you'll have is what to do with all the fish you'll catch.  That's why Destin is called The World's Luckiest Fishing Village.

If your family isn't into fishing, they can choose to spend a day taking a ride on a glass bottom boat and watch the dolphins enjoying themselves in Destin's waters. Or, they can enjoy any one of the numerous activities Destin has to offer.

December is an excellent time to visit Destin with your family.  Going on right now is the Norman Rockwell Holidays in the Destin Commons.  This is an interactive, educational experience perfect for your entire family.  There is a 50 foot Christmas tree, and Main Street is illuminated with hundreds of lights.  You can even "talk" to Norman Rockwell, himself.  Well, it's more like an interactive, life-sized, vignette.  This enchanting event runs through December 31^st.

For more information on Norman Rockwell in the Destin Commons, click here: http://www.destincommons.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id =49&Itemid=126

Guest Blogger - Leslie Bofill 

For More Information About Florida Vacation Rentals, check out: http://www.VacationRentalHotSpots.com - Florida's Top Choice for Vacation Rentals!

There are still a few places in Florida that haven't been overdeveloped.  Walton County, in the Northwest part of the Florida panhandle, has a good chance of staying safe from development.Over 40% of South Walton is owned by the State of Florida and, for now at least, is protected from development.  What does this mean for tourists? You get pristine, uncrowded beaches.   

One jewel in South Walton is the town of Seaside.  Nowhere else in Florida will you find a modern Victorian city like the one in Seaside.  It's pedestrian friendly and boasts a "walk-to-anywhere" design.  It's no coincidence that this city was featured in the movie "The Truman Show" with Jim Carey.  It's as picturesque as towns can be.   

What's great about Seaside is that you can enjoy its beautiful beach or take a stroll through the city.  There are a variety of shops and restaurants to choose from.  If art galleries are more your style, stop by Ruskin Place.  It's considered the artist colony of Seaside.   

Since there is so much to experience in this town, consider a vacation rental when visiting.  A Seaside vacation rental will allow you the comfort to stay for a few more days and take it all in.  Spend your mornings at the beach.  Then, go home and get some rest and refresh.  Once the sun starts to go down, walk or bike to the town square and have dinner as you watch the sun go down.  Then, stroll back home under the moonlight and get some rest, so you can do it all over again tomorrow.

Guest Blogger - Leslie Bofill

For More Information About Florida Vacation Rentals, check out: http://www.VacationRentalHotSpots.com - Florida's Top Choice for Vacation Rentals!

The Florida Keys is a group of islands at the southern tip of Florida.  Floridians usually group the islands that make up the Keys into three sections: the Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys.  No matter where you go in the Keys, you will find great dive sites.   

Since scuba diving in the Keys is so popular, you don't need to be certified before planning your trip.  There are many scuba schools that offer lessons on the spot.  Don't have equipment? Not a problem, either.  There are dozens upon dozens of dive shops that will rent you everything you need to have for an excellent underwater experience.   

Dive sites in the Florida Keys are both natural and man-made and range from sites for beginners to advanced divers.  If you choose to experience a natural dive site, the Keys have some of the most beautiful reefs in the world.  You never know what type of sea life, big or small, you'll see on your dive.  If you're lucky, you might even spot a reef shark or a nurse shark.  If you're in the mood for a man-made dive site, you will have plenty to choose from.  Artificial reefs aren't just for advanced divers, either.  There are many artificial reefs for beginners and intermediate divers.   

One artificial reef is the San Pedro, a Spanish ship that sank around 1733.  After centuries under water, not much is left of the San Pedro, other than a few ballast stones.  However, some divers have reported to have found ancient coins.  You might get lucky too!  The San Pedro is one of ten Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves.  These preserves are considered underwater parks. So no matter what type of dive you're in the mood for, the Florida Keys has it.  

For more information on dive sites in the Keys, click here: http://flkeysdiving.com/  

Guest Blogger – Leslie Bofill

For More Information About Florida Vacation Rentals, check out: http://www.VacationRentalHotSpots.com - Florida's Top Choice for Vacation Rentals!

South Florida is full of interesting characters.  Take a walk on South Beach, and you'll encounter some of the most unique people you'll ever see.  Yet, one of South Florida's most eccentric citizens is also one of our best kept secrets…Edward Leedskalnin.   

I can already tell you don't know who he is.  Most people don't.  However, if you've ever driven south on US1 toward Key West, you would've passed a home made out completely of fossilized coral.  If you're not looking out for it, you'll miss it.   

Coral Castle, as it is now called, surprisingly blends into its surroundings.  Edward single-handedly built Coral Castle by carving and sculpting over 1,100 tons of coral rock.  What leaves people scratching their heads is that Edward was a bit over 5 feet tall and weighed about 100 pounds.   

According to legend, Edward didn't allow anyone to see him building the castle, and there aren't any records of how he built it.  So, through the years and through retelling of the Ed's story, he was gained supernatural abilities.  When asked how he managed to carve and move the stone slabs, he replied that he held the secrets of the ancient Egyptians.  

Coral Castle really is a site to see.  As you walk through the grounds, you'll notice an accurate sundial, a barbeque, a bathtub, a bed, a table in the shape of Florida, and many more items…all made out of Coral! If you're planning on staying in Miami, check out a Miami Beach vacation rental…then take some time to go see Coral Castle, and explore one of its hidden gems.  

To learn more about Coral Castle, click here: http://www.coralcastle.com/ 

Guest Blogger – Leslie Bofill

For More Information About Florida Vacation Rentals, check out: http://www.VacationRentalHotSpots.com - Florida's Top Choice for Vacation Rentals!

When people think of romantic places to visit in Florida, the city of Anna Maria Island usually isn't first on their list.  It's unfortunate, really, because Anna Maria Island has so much to offer.  Anna Maria Island overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and offers some of the most beautiful sunsets. 

If you're in the mood for romance, book a cozy Anna Maria Island vacation home and get away for the weekend.  Just eight miles west of Bradenton, Anna Maria Island is a quiet and secluded beach, perfect for spending a romantic day in the sun.  You can lay out the white, soft sands and listen to the waves breaking on the shore.  Or, you can prepare and enjoy a casual picnic on the sand.  If you prefer to let someone else do all the work, then have the Sandbar Restaurant prepare a romantic dinner for two.  When you're tired of the beach, you can take a walk through the Village of the Arts, an artist colony nested among homes.  Here, you'll find art studios that double as homes to musicians and artisans.  You won't find many places like the Village of the Arts in Florida.  It's a unique experience that you shouldn't miss.  You can walk and talk to the artists, do a bit of shopping, and enjoy the music being played just for you. 

After spending a relaxing day walking through the villa, take in a sunset tour of the Gulf and spend the rest of your evening cozied up in your Anna Maria Island beach house watching the moon glisten off the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  What's more romantic than that? So, next time you're looking to break the routine and take a romantic trip, think of Anna Maria Island.  You won't be disappointed.

Guest Blogger - Leslie Bofill

For More Information About Florida Vacation Rentals, check out: http://www.VacationRentalHotSpots.com - Florida's Top Choice for Vacation Rentals!